Home Remedies for Fever Blisters

Disclaimer: Results are not guaranteed*** and may vary from person to person***.

What is a fever blister? Sometimes you might notice a blister on your lip; it may even appear more than once, often in the same place, and oddly at the most inopportune times.

Thankfully, home remedies for fever blisters or cold sores can be effective. Most of the best fever blister treatments work within a few days to alleviate the pain and unsightliness of these untimely irritants.

These painful, irritating, itchy and achy sores are caused by the herpes simplex virus 1, which is similar to the virus that causes genital herpes (herpes simplex virus 2).

This is a virus that lays dormant in the body so repeated flare-ups can occur, which makes treatment important in controlling and preventing them. The virus can flare up when exposed to irritants, either internal or external.

Things such as stress, overexposure to sunlight, hormonal changes, or a weakened immune system can all cause fever blister flare-ups.

The good thing is that as flare-ups approach, symptoms accompany them: warm tingling, discomfort, itching, and aching in the area may all precede development. If you can catch these symptoms early, you might be able to stop blisters from appearing. Here’s what to put on a fever blister.

How to Stop a Fever Blister

Here’s a recipe you can try when you first feel the early symptoms. If fever blisters appear after you’ve done this, then it can at least limit their duration and severity.

Place a damp black tea bag on the area. Keep it there for 10 minutes and repeat three or four times per day. These tea bags contain tannic acid, which is an astringent with anti-viral properties. In fact, it’s often used in over-the-counter fever blister treatments.

Once you’ve removed the tea bags, apply an ice pack to the same area and hold it there for about 10 to 15 minutes. The ice will numb the pain and potentially keep the virus from spreading to surrounding areas. After the ice has been removed, apply a thick layer of highly concentrated lemon balm ointment; a 70:1 ratio. Lemon balm is often sold in health food stores under the name “cold sore relief.” There is research indicating that lemon balm works as a natural cure for fever blisters by preventing the virus from spreading, while reducing the duration of the blister and potentially lowering the risk of recurrence.

In addition to using these items as home remedies for fever blisters on the lips, taking vitamin C and a lysine supplement can also help heal them. Lysine is an amino acid that may have antiviral capabilities because it blocks another amino acid, L-arginine, from feeding the virus. However, before taking lysine, it’s recommended that you talk to your doctor, especially if you have heart problems and are taking L-arginine as a part of an existing treatment.

How to Heal a Fever Blister: The Best Home Remedies for Fever Blisters or Cold Sores

Once it shows up, you’ll want to know how to get rid of a fever blister as soon as possible. Thankfully there are a number of natural cures for fever blisters you can apply quickly. Of course they might not work as quickly as you’d like all the time, but these remedies are safe and viable fever blister cures that provide quality results so you can get back to life as normal. These can also be used as home remedies for blisters on the tongue or inside your mouth.

1. Tea Tree Oil

Tea tree oil is widely available and can be a great home remedy for fever blisters; its antiviral properties are quite strong.

Tea tree oil is widely available and can be a great home remedy for fever blisters. Its antiviral properties are quite strong, and if the tea tree oil isn’t diluted it may cause some irritation—especially in your nose! To use tea tree oil this way, dilute it using one part tea tree oil and three parts water. Dip a cotton ball into the mixture, then apply it to the affected area three times per day. After a few days, the blister should heal.

2. Whole Milk

The fat in milk is where many of these bacteria-fighters reside, which is why whole milk is recommended as a fever blister remedy instead of skim milk.

Whole milk is a simple and straightforward treatment for fever blisters and cold sores. Whole milk has nutrients, including immunoglobulins and calcium, which fight blister-causing viruses. The fat in milk is where many of these bacteria-fighters reside, which is why whole milk is recommended as a fever blister remedy instead of skim milk. You can soak a cotton ball in the milk and hold it to your lip for about 10 minutes. You can also drink the milk and swish it around as a home remedy for fever blisters inside the mouth.

3. Garlic

To get the best treatment from garlic, take two or three cloves and make a paste. After you’ve mixed the paste, apply it to the affected area and leave it there for 10 to 15 minutes.

Garlic can also aid in the speedy recovery from fever blisters because of its numerous enzymes and nutrients which act as antiviral agents. To get the best treatment from garlic, take two or three cloves and make a paste. After you’ve mixed the paste, apply it to the affected area and leave it there for 10 to 15 minutes. Repeat this procedure three times a day for two days and it should get rid of your fever blisters.

4. Licorice

Licorice has compounds that possess antiviral and anti-inflammatory properties, making it an effective treatment.

Using a licorice supplement can also help treat cold sores. Licorice has compounds that possess antiviral and anti-inflammatory properties, making it an effective treatment. These compounds can lessen redness and swelling, while speeding up the healing process. You can drink licorice root tea, or use it in supplement form or as a topical ointment. Take one tablespoon of licorice root powder and half a teaspoon of water and mix them into a thick paste. Dab it on the sore using a cotton swab and leave it there for a few hours. Do this three to four times per day, and the blister should heal in a few days.

5. Toothpaste

Toothpaste features ingredients that can dry blisters out so they heal faster. Things like hydrogen peroxide, baking soda, alcohol, and menthol all have properties that can stabilize and shrink fever blisters.

Toothpaste features ingredients that can dry blisters out so they heal faster. Things like hydrogen peroxide, baking soda, alcohol, and menthol all have properties that can stabilize and shrink fever blisters. In a matter of days, you can reduce the size of sores by applying a bit of toothpaste on top of the affected area every night before bed. When you wake up, rinse it off and apply some petroleum jelly. Repeat daily until the blisters heal.

How to Prevent Fever Blisters

You can prevent fever blisters by:

Applying sunscreen on your lips;

Wearing a hat;

Using lip balm;

Eating a balanced diet;

Getting rest; and

Limiting stress.

How to Treat Fever Blisters and Cold Sources Quickly

Fever blisters are annoying, painful and always seem to arise at the worst possible moment. In addition to applying sunscreen, staying out of the sun for extended periods, eating a balanced diet, and trying to limit stress, the natural home remedies for fever blisters listed above can help.

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Dr. Alwyn Wong has been involved in the health and fitness industry for over fifteen years and brings with him a wealth of experience. He uses an integrated treatment approach, combining active release techniques (ART®), acupuncture, chiropractic, nutritional consulting, and program design to treat his patients, many of whom have included professional athletes from the NFL, NHL, NBA, MLB, and PGA, as well as Olympic, and IFBB athletes. Although his focus has shifted to more clinical work, he remains as... Read Full Bio »

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Disclaimer: The information contained herein is for information purposes only and is not to be construed as a diagnosis, treatment, preventive, or cure for any disease, disorder, or abnormal physical state, nor should it be considered a substitute for medical care from your doctor. On any matter relating to your health or well-being—and prior to undertaking any health-related activity—consult an appropriate health professional. The opinions herein are exactly that, they are the opinions of the author. Doctors Health Press, a division of Lombardi Publishing Corp. and its employees are not responsible for medically unsupervised activities that could be harmful to your health. Results are not guaranteed*** and may vary from person to person***.